Do you look around your classroom and wonder how you will help every student to learn what they need?
Are you looking to personalize test prep for your students ahead of the standardized test or the end of the year?
It may seem daunting to personalize test prep, but with these three easy steps it can be done!
What Is Personalized Test Prep?
Each student in our classrooms has individualized needs. Learning is definitely NOT a one-size-fits-all situation, but tests treat our students like they are.
By using personalized test prep as a solution to the different needs our students have, we can reach them where they are and get them up to speed.
How to Personalize Test Prep in 3 Easy Steps
Three steps don’t seem like a lot, but over my years in the classroom, these steps helped me to make the most difference.
Step #1 Planning to Personalize Test Prep
You may be thinking to yourself, “Duh, of course I am planning!” and I hope you are. When it comes to planning for test prep I look at three different areas.
First comes the standards. I am a data nerd and I love to look at the numbers and how each student is faring on their way to mastery. The standards let me know which students need enrichment and encouragement and in which areas. Starting with the standards also allows me to group students with like needs. Just because we personalize test prep does not mean each student is receiving individualized instruction, because there isn’t enough time in the day for that.
Next, I make a schedule. This can involve when I plan to review each standard as well as when I will meet with students. There may be some groups I work with before or after school while others meet with me during our curricular or small groups blocks throughout the day. Still, some students may work with me during all these times.
Finally, I work with students to set goals for themselves. This means looking at the data together to see what their glow and grow areas are. We celebrate their glow areas and set goals for how to achieve more glow. My students have loved this process in the past as it gives them personalized ownership of their learning.
Step #2 Activities to Personalize Test Prep
After you determine what you are reviewing, when you are going to do it and set up goals with students it is time to figure out the how. You can’t meet with all students all the time, so it is important to put some activities in place that students can work on independently or with a partner.
The four categories I plan for are:
- Independent Activities
- These are activities that students can work on at their level. They should not lead to frustration but will allow students to practice the skills they are near mastery or have already mastered.
- These are activities that students can work on at their level. They should not lead to frustration but will allow students to practice the skills they are near mastery or have already mastered.
- Partner or Team Activities
- These activities are often station work or centers that allow students to work together, supporting one another, towards mastery.
- These activities are often station work or centers that allow students to work together, supporting one another, towards mastery.
- Teacher-Led Activities
- These activities are teacher-led due to being just outside the students’ comfort zone and allow for growth with immediate feedback and reteach when necessary.
- These activities are teacher-led due to being just outside the students’ comfort zone and allow for growth with immediate feedback and reteach when necessary.
- Technology Activities
- Like teacher-led activities, a well-used technology activity in the form of an app or website provides students with immediate feedback and can track the level they are working on.
All these activity types work together to help students. One of my favorite strategies for any of these activity areas is Digital Stinky Feet.
Step #3 Goals for Personalized Test Prep
While setting goals is part of the first step of personalized test prep, it is also the entirety of step three. It is THAT important to helping students take ownership.
When thinking about goal setting I remind myself to revisit goals often, celebrate every success, and make smaller goals you can celebrate along the way to achieving larger goals.
Personally, I used the Test Smash resource for both math and reading to allow students daily practice that also to track their own data. We would meet often and discuss their progress towards goals and the intensity with with students took ownership amazed me.
